Love △

✖︎One✖︎

Friday, October 9 15 days before homecoming

Grace

How do you tell a well-structured story when your life is complete chaos? Well, to be honest, you can't. So I'm going to start at homecoming. I guess you could call me popular. I don't do cheerleading though. Or volleyball. Now that I think about it, I don't do any sports or after school activities. I do get good grades, I'm never late to class, and I have a best friend, Luna. I've never been big on school dances but it's Homecoming, so I figured it's required if I go to high school. Luna was going alone. I was going alone. Well until two guys asked me to the dance. Noah and Gabe. Gabe was a hockey player who all the girls liked. he was like a fish in the sea and the girls were sharks, circling him. then there was Noah. Noah was... well, Noah. He hated labels. he did sports he was good at science, he was liked. So imagine my confusion when both guys asked me to homecoming. I bet your wondering who I said yes to. Me having not dated anyone in my whole life, I didn't say anything. Well, I guess I shrugged at Gabe and walked quickly out of the school doors. Noah cornered me. I guess that's not exactly what happened. He's my lab partner and he asked me while I was pouring a liquid in a beaker. I dropped the other glass beaker on the floor. Noah kept apologizing, helping me clean up my clumsy mess. I told him it was fine.

I was sitting in History class. I spaced out, listening to the voice in my head. It wasn't bad that I was, the A- held strong in the class. Gabe was in my history class. He kept looking back at me, raising his eyebrow or winking. I gave him a weak smile and looked down at my history book, pretending to read. My phone buzzes in my bag. I glance up and make sure no one's watching. I take out my phone and look at the screen.

Luna: did you finish the notes in Ela??

Me: Yeah, why?

Luna: bestie, my favorite person, my happiness...

Me: Yes, I'll send it to you.

Luna: 🥰

I smile and shake my head. I get into docs on my computer and share it with luna. After a few minutes, my phone buzzes again.

Luna: Thank you! 😇

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

"I got my dress. It's orange. A peachy orange kind of. Have you got yours yet?" Luna is going through her closet. It always seems to be a mess, clothes, shoes, jackets, anything really. I shrug and realize she can't see me.

"Sort of, not really. No actually." I say I write down the answer on my homework and flick the pencil between my fingers.

"No? It's in two weeks' Grace."

"I know I just, got busy."

"You barely do anything during the weekend, how were you busy?"

"Rude." I joke. I toss my pencil at her and she laughs.

"Okay, I guess that's not completely true. I'll help you go shopping tomorrow." She turns around and sits criss-cross on the floor.

"Thanks, Luna."

"No problem. Now, what were you going to tell me?"

"Oh, right. So you know how I said I was not going with anyone for homecoming?"

Luna nods, raising her eyebrow.

"Well, Gabe asked me and... I didn't say yes but still. Then-"

"Wait! hold up. Gabe Carter asked you to homecoming?!" Luna jumps around and squeals.

"Well, and Noah but yeah."

"AND Noah?! Jesus girl." She pulls her hair back, her mouth wide open.

"Who did you say yes to?" Luna sits on the bed across from me.

"I didn't say yes to either of them." Luna's jaw drops to the floor to that news.

"Are. You. SERIOUS?!" I shrug and get back to doing my homework. Luna jerks the pencil from my hand and throws it across her room.

"Hey!"

"You are going to homecoming, and you're going with one of those guys."

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

Ok, I know it doesn't sound exactly like chaos but just wait, I haven't even gotten to the good part yet. I can, however, tell you this, science just got ten times more awkward. Or maybe it's just me. I walk into the class and sink into my chair. Noah smiles and turns to his notebook. I open my notebook, filled with doodles on the corner of the pages. My big, blocky letters are covering the pages in science notes. I brush my long hair off my shoulder and write the date in the corner of the page.

"So," Noah clears his throat and looks at me.

"So," I respond, looking up.

"Wow, she does talk." Noah jokes, trying to lighten the mood. I glare and he wipes the smile off my face.

"Well, I just wanted to say sorry about the other day. And it's okay if you say no or nothing at all." I nod and look back at my notebook. I wait for a second and sigh.

"Look, Noah, you're a great guy, I just... Need more time."

"That's cool,"

"...And another guy asked me to the dance too so,"

"Oh, I see. Who is it?" Noah asks me. I give him a look and he holds up his hands.

"You don't have to tell me, it's fine." I nod my head once and turn back to my notebook, just as the bell rings.

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

Ok, I get it. Not that exciting. I told you, it's coming. Just be patient.

I walk into history. Gabe and his friends are sitting at the desks, Throwing crumpled papers and laughing. He looks at me as I sit down in the back of the class. He muttered something to his friends and he starts heading my direction. I look down and grab my history book out of my bag. I hear the seat next to me creak and I look up. He smiles at me and I give him a weak smile.

"Have you got an answer for me?" He inquires and I stare blankly at him.

"No."

"No?" He looks shocked at me.

"No. I don't have an answer for you." I say a little sarcastically. Gabe relaxes and smiles.

"Oh, ok. Take your time." He stands up and walks up to his friends. I keep myself from rolling my eyes and open my book.

"Ok class. Please sit in your chair, Gabe. Let's begin..."

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

Saturday, October 10 14 days before homecoming

I wiggle into a small yellow dress and look in the mirror. God, I'm so fat. I walk out of the dressing room and spin in front of Luna. I raise my eyebrows.

"It makes your butt look big... I don't think that dress is the one. The yellow does look good with your hair though."

I walk back into the dressing room and try on a rich green dress. It fit around my stomach and thighs, loosening at the bottom. The top came off of the shoulders. I smile and turn around looking into the mirror. I walk out and smile at Luna.

"This one's pretty." Luna nods and walks around me.

"Nope. Fifth ones the charm though." I shake my head and walk back into the room. I pick up a black dress with a long V-neck. The dress covers my toes and swishes around as I move. I walk out of the room and held out my hands.

"Oh my god. Yes. Don't try on anymore, That one's perfect." Luna claps her hands together once and smiles.

"You look gorgeous."

"Thanks."

We walk out of the store with a box tied with a red bow. I smile and get into the car.